And so it begins...again

In the two or so months since I last wrote, my life has changed more dramatically than I could have ever imagined possible. Going into last summer, I had no idea that things would be so completely transformed. I am going to try to go through the entire process, for posterity's sake, but we'll see how far I get without going off on some random tangent that has absolutely nothing to do with what happened. So without further ado...here follows an account of the craziest summer of my life!

Let me start by saying that as I type this, I am sitting in my new room in my new apartment looking out the window at the beautiful lights of downtown Denver, Colorado. During the day the majestic Rocky mountains are in the distance, but alas, they disappear with the last rays of the sun in the West. What am I doing living in Denver? Well this is when I have to go all the way back to last fall (which REALLY feels like a different lifetime, for too many reasons to count). Last year I had the opportunity to take a little class called Human Geography. I knew a couple people who had taken it and loved it, so I decided that it would be worth a shot. Maps have always held an unusual level of fascination for me, and while I had no idea that it was much more than just maps, I did know that they would be involved, so I registered for the class. Boy am I glad I did! Before I took Human Geography with Professor Gallaher, I had no idea that being in school could be so inspiring and exciting. I mean I've always enjoyed school to a certain extent, but never like this. Every day I was in class early sitting literally front and center, ready to take copious amounts of notes trying to absorb as much information as possible. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy how the class was taught, but the material was opening my eyes to things I never imagined about the world we live in. On the surface, I knew about the issues we were discussing, but I had no clue about things like state-led gentrification or push and pull factors and why the continent of Africa as it is is so prone to conflict. We were learning about all these broad themes, but the case studies put them into perspective and I was becoming more and more drawn to the world of geography. About half way through the semester, I knew that I had to get more geography somehow, but I was truly disappointed that I was in the only geography class at the school. So I started looking into taking classes at other institutions, and studying geography abroad, or even just waiting until grad school to focus on this subject that had captured my heart, so to speak.

I skipped over some of the minor details, but that pretty much brings us up to this past summer. That is when I got to go on an amazing trip to Australia. When I left I knew that I would be spending some time with people who have blessed my life in such astounding ways, but I could have never imagined that by the time I came home I would be looking into transferring to pursue this passion for geography. But so much for what I thought! While I was in Sydney, I did indeed get to spend time with two of my dearest friends and get to know another, but I also had the chance to really be still and listen to what the Lord wanted me to hear and see what He had in store for me. I knew that this interest in geography had a very specific purpose and that the Lord put these desires in my heart for a reason. I just had to be still enough to hear His voice leading. During the course of the trip, I decided to start researching schools to possibly transfer to in the spring, and after looking around I decided to look further into the University of Washington, and UC Boulder and Denver. (wow...this is much longer than I thought it would be...but I shall continue, so what if no one but me ever reads it!) Well, after a visit to UW, the door to me transferring there was pretty much shut and I came home kind of discouraged.

But I was talking with my mom, and she reminded me that the Lord would open the right doors to have me where He wanted me and I decided to press on and keep looking at schools for the spring. Then, for some reason I was looking at the deadlines again, and I saw that the application for UCD wasn't due for another three weeks. At that moment, a pro/con list started forming itself in my mind. On the one hand, it was a chance to start studying geography right away in a place that I would love to live. On the other hand was the fact that I would be transferring right away, which would mean that I wouldn't have the chance to say good-bye to my friends in DC, not to mention the fact that I would be leaving a group of friends I never thought I would have. They have been such a huge part of my life the last two years, and selfishly I didn't want to leave and have to start the process all over again. For a moment I thought about not telling my parents about the deadline and just going forward with trying to transfer in the spring. But there was a nagging feeling (I'm thinking it might have something to do with God's plan as opposed to mine...) that I should go talk to my parents, so when they got home from dinner that night, I went in to talk to them. Let me say here that my parents are amazing! They have been wonderful through all of this, and their encouragement through everything has been invaluable. Anyway, when I talked to them, they both thought that I should apply and just see what happened after that.

Well, the rest, as they say, is how I wound up sitting here in Denver. I was accepted at UCD and in the shortest/longest month of my life, I withdrew from one school, enrolled in another, moved from one city to another, and now I've started school! There have been times of sadness, especially in saying goodbye. In the middle of all of this I was blessed to go on a trip to Austin and I had an amazing time resting and refueling (yay Doolittle clan!). But when it came time to say goodbye, it hit me that all of this was really happening. While I was still really excited to come here, I was really sad to be leaving... Thankfully, the Lord is with me always, and His comfort and love have brought me to where I am right now. His work in my life and in the lives of the people I love leaves me at a loss for words. It goes beyond all comprehension and the awe that I feel when I look out the window and see the mountains is a constant reminder of how full of grace and power my Abba Father is and how He loves me so much that He would make a way for me through all the ups and downs.

So that wraps it up I suppose! :) If you made it through this whole thing and read it all, you should definitely get a prize! (I can't really give you one, congratulations!!!)

To all of my wonderful friends in DC: I love you and I thank God for bringing each and every one of you into my life. I pray that He will continue to guide you and you will continue to seek Him in each step you take.

ps. I stumbled across this...and thought I'd share it with you all, whoever you might be :)

I Chronicles 28:9

"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever."